MESJ commemorates the 30th anniversary
of the death penalty's reinstatement. We'll celebrate past small
successes and gear up for the work to come. Whether you've never
heard of MESJ or are a seasoned member, all are welcome to attend!

Showing of The Exonerated. Free to
all. For a more detailed description of the film, visit its
website here.

Hosted at Millsaps College, the film
was shown in the Ford Academic Complex, room 215. Enter from Park
Ave. off of State St. and park under the Academic Complex building,
which is on the right as you enter the Millsaps gates on Park Ave.

Tuesday, July 11, 5:00p.m.

Vigils for the execution of Bobby
Wilcher: Parchman and Jackson

Presence outside the Governor's Mansion
in Jackson

NB: The execution was placed on hold,
then stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court. They will review the case
next term.

2005: Take
a look at some of our ads that ran in the
Jackson Free Press.

January,
2005:

We are all set
to begin our advertising campaign this month. Begin checking the
Jackson Free Press near the end of the month!

December,
2004:

We are planning
our panel discussions and our new advertising campaign. The next
meeting will be on January 10, 2005.

November,
2004:

Project
Director HiredMESJ is pleased
to announce that Susan Voisin has been hired as Project Director.
Susan will assist us in developing educational programs addressing
capital punishment and will facilitate communication among group
members. Beginning in March of 2005, MESJ will host several panel
discussions at universities around the state. Panelists will
discuss their reasons for opposing the death penalty and will include
diverse perspectives including religious, legal, and victim-centered
views. We will need members to serve as panelists, so please be
ready to volunteer.

Dates for
Meetings SetWe'll be having
regular meetings on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00 pm, so come if
you can.

An error in the
wording in the indictment against juvenile defendant Justin Haynes
caused the judge in the case to throw out the death penalty.
Haynes was sentenced to life in prison.

January

The United
States Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of Marlon Howell. It had
originally agreed to hear the case, but in an opinion issued in January,
2005, the Court decided that it should not have taken the case.
Howell had asked the Supreme Court to address the failure of the
trial court to give a jury instruction on the offense of
simple murder or manslaughter. The Supreme Court, however,
determined that it did have jurisdiction to hear the issue because the
issue was not adequately presented to the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Although Howell lost at this stage, he may now pursue post-conviction
proceedings in state court.

December
2nd

Rodney Gray's
motion for rehearing was denied. Rodney now goes to the federal
stage of his appeals.

The
State's motion for rehearing in Willie Manning was granted; Willie now
will have a hearing in the trial court instead of a new trial.

William
Mitchell's motion for rehearing was denied. William now goes to
the federal stage of his appeals.